The Survivors

Chapter 4

The next day, we left Farope’s inn at the crack of dawn. Some young teens were sitting out on their porches, smoking. A couple boys whistled at me, and I cocked my gun. They shut up after that. I heard Ashton chuckle. Ten minutes later we had passed the gates and were on our way back to the hut. It would most likely take about two days to get back, if we didn’t rest often. The thought of sharing my little shack with anyone made me nervous. I wondered if I should add another room for the kids. And what about Ashton? Would he stay? The guy in question interrupted my thoughts. “So what’s in the box?” I glanced at him then continued walking towards a set of broken branches. “Ammo, bandages, medications, hygienic stuff.” I said nonchalantly, hoping he didn’t he didn’t ask anything else about its contents. That was something I’d like to keep to myself. “I noticed you didn’t pay for anything, why’s that?” 

“In exchange for supplies and stuff in her shop, when I find the bodies and bags of people, she gets most of the stuff I find.”

“What doesn’t she get?”

“Books, batteries, things I find too valuable to give to her.”

“Like?”

I sighed. “Like pictures of family, guns and ammo, things that remind me of home.” My voice faltered when I said home. Sometimes I forgot I didn’t have a home anymore. Just a house. A house without a family is not a home. But I guess I had family now, didn’t I? We were our own little dysfunctional family, a bunch of orphans trying to fit together, fill that hole inside our heart that seemed to be sucking the life straight out of me. And as much as didn’t like to admit it, they filled up that hole a little bit, helping me heal. 

“Why do you keep the pictures?” Ashton asked curiously. At the edge of the forest, near the river by my house, I had a little cemetery. I guess it was a little creepy, but when I found dead bodies of people, I took something that seemed to be the most important to them and buried it. I took two sticks, wrapped them with some twine, and made the grave marker. I had about a dozen of these little symbolic graves. But all I said was, “You’ll find out soon enough.” Somehow sensing that I was done talking, he commented on how beautiful Cara looked with her jewelry, and how cool TJ’s cars and lizards were, (I guess Therry was not just saying crazy things, she actually had toy lizards) and telling them stupid jokes to make them laugh. TJ caught up to me and grabbed onto my hand. “Are you okay Olive?” I smiled at him reassured and told him I was just tired. He frowned. “Me and Cara will stay awake and watch for the bodies tonight, kay? Our old mommy used to make us stay awake and if we heard one we were supposed to wake her up. I like you better than her, she never let me play.” It was my turn to frown. “You didn’t take turns watching?” “Nope, she told us that she was more important than us cause we was just little kids,” Cara told me. I glanced at Ashton. His jaw was clenched. “You are very important. Someday, you’re gonna be the beautiful lady taking care of your own two kids just like Olive. And TJ, you’re gonna be a zombie killer, and save people,” He turned to me. “As soon as we can, I want to teach Cara how to shoot a bow and arrow,” he said quietly. “I can carve one out. TJ isn’t strong enough yet, but we can just teach him basic survival skills.” I must’ve looked surprised because he added, “What? Did you think I was going to leave you three all alone?” 

“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”

“I want to.”

I didn’t understand why he was staying, but I was glad he was. Just so he could help me with Cara and TJ. I still went hungry just taking care of myself, and it would be hell trying to keep up with feeding two growing kids. For God’s sake, I could barely feed myself! How was I supposed to look for my brothers now? “Don’t move a muscle.” The cold hard metal of a gun pressed into the side of my head. I must’ve been so distracted I didn’t even here the three men sneak up on us. I heard a fourth wandering around loudly a couple yards away. I looked back at Ashton, and he was staring at the man with a gun to my head in pure happiness. Had this all been a trap? Cara and TJ inched closer to me, and TJ wrapped himself around my leg. I felt his little hand slip into my boot and grasp the handle of the knife. He slipped it out and swiftly handed it to Cara who placed into my hand. These kids were intelligent. I gripped its wooden handle and prepared to attack, waiting for the best moment. The man hugged Ashton hard, slapping his back and murmuring to him, glancing at the three of us. I felt hot anger and betrayal flood through my veins. My blood boiled and I began to fantasize about stabbing him right in the chest. My fists clenched and I ground my teeth together. The traitor turned around and winked at me. I glared at him, but he had already turned around. Oh, if looks could kill, he’d be on the ground in pieces right now. The men led us to a clearing where a girl my age sat on a log. When she turned to us my heart sank. They had got Nikki too? Or was she one of them? TJ started to cry. Nikki looked shocked. “Olive? Cara? TJ? What are you doing here? Where’s your mother? I thought you were dead Olive!” I sneered at her and told her she probably wished I was. “What are you talking about?” she asked me, getting angry. “You’re with them now,” I responded. “And you!” I shouted, turning to Ashton, “You tricked us! How could you do that?” 

“What are you talking about? I didn’t trick you, thi-”

“Save it. I don’t care.”

His look of shock quickly wore off and then he just looked pissed. He strode towards the other men, leaving us. A tear ran down my face and I quickly wiped it away. Nikki looked at me, then followed Ashton. The man raised an eyebrow at me. “You think he betrayed you.”

“Yes.”

“Ashton is too good of a man to do something like that. Even if it meant getting his family back.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Excuse me, where are my manners. I’m Leo. Ashton’s brother.”